Strategic Priority Open House
2026-09-09 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | ZOOM
If you didn’t see the email in June, the LOM Board of Directors has been working on the next set of strategic priorities. We plan to have some open house Zoom sessions on August 24th from 12:00-1:00pm CT (Zoom link: August 24 LOM Strategic Priority Open House) and on September 9 from 7:00-8:00pm CT (Zoom link: September 9 LOM Strategic Priority Open House) to share with those who are interested in learning more. Please join us if you’re able!

Zoom link: September 9 LOM Strategic Priority Open House

God's Work Our Hands
2026-09-13
September 13: “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday. ELCA’s annual day of service

Total Inclusion! Leaders grant application deadline
2026-09-15
September 15: Total Inclusion! Leaders grant application deadline

The Shape Of Leadership for LOM Professionals 2026
2026-09-23 - 2026-09-26 | Luther Hill, La Grange, TX
Learn More & Apply: https://www.leaderwise.org/shape-of-leadership
Download Brochure

The Shape Of Leadership for LOM Professionals 2026
Luther Hill, La Grange, TX
Retreat One February 9-12, 2026 Leading in a Time of Disruption
Zoom One To be agreed upon by the group Orchestrating Change
Zoom Two To be agreed upon by the group Leading Amidst Difference
Retreat Two September 21-23, 2026 Where Do We Go From Here? Chaos or Community

The Shape of Leadership is for outdoor ministry professionals who want to renew their leadership and step up their ability to significantly
impact the future of this vital ministry of the church.
The past few years have been incredibly challenging for camp professionals. Leaders are tired, if not burned out, and need safe places where they can reflect on the demands of their work and develop their leadership for the changing landscape of outdoor ministry. We create brave spaces where leaders can show up with their whole being and are accepted as they are. We invite participants to be authentic and vulnerable, to embed new learning that they then take back to their contexts. We provide emergent spaces to reconnect with God and self, so participants can serve more fully. This time away invites reflection on what changes organizations need to make for these complex times in which we live and how they will lead those changes.
In this program, Shape participants spend a year together, twice in person at opening and closing retreats to develop their leadership in adaptive and experiential ways: by experimenting with innovative practices, deepening self-awareness, and learning to navigate change, conflict, and the daily challenges of leadership. Shape facilitators cultivate an ethos that encourages leaders to wrestle with new ideas in the safety of a generous and compassionate space.
The program is highly experiential, collaborative and offers the opportunity to develop long-lasting support systems. In the Shape program, each retreat provides opportunity to bond and learn together. Between retreats, participants meet in cohort groups to journey through the year together, supporting each other and deepening the learning. In Shape, you can expect to work hard and gain much.

Compass Points Class
2026-09-28 - 2026-10-01 | Pilgrim Firs Camp & Retreat Center, Port Orchard, WA
Do you know where your ministry is going? Can you clearly articulate for others who you are and why you exist? Identification and implementation of mission, core values, and philosophy are central to all aspects of successful outdoor ministry: program, site management, hospitality, marketing, finances, and more. Participants will delve into their organization’s mission and core values. This course involves organizational introspection and will engage with a wide variety of concepts, ideas, and activities. Coursework will challenge a new or clearer perspective concerning mission, philosophy, vision and core values in your outdoor ministry.
More Info

LOM Leadership Training Event (LTE)
2026-11-05 - 2026-11-09 | Luther Hill, La Grange, TX
The LTE is an annual professional development opportunity for outdoor ministry leaders. The goal of the LTE is to provide an entry-level educational opportunity to develop well-trained, committed, and diverse outdoor ministry professionals. The LTE strives to enhance the quality of outdoor ministry programs, support professionals through formal and information learning, and assist in the retention of professionals in the network. The LTE curriculum is implemented in a 3-year rotation with different concentrations. It is ideal for participants to attend all three concentrations but each concentration does stand on its own.
Structure and Operation This concentration equips leaders to manage people, facilities, finances, and risk through a faith-rooted, values-driven lens – recognizing that operational excellence is not separate from ministry, but one of its most faithful expressions. Participants will explore how theology, organizational culture, and infrastructure intersect to shape reputation, trust, and long-term sustainability. Courses emphasize practical tools, shared leadership, and systems thinking – helping leaders move beyond reactive decision-making toward structures that support clarity, consistency, and resilience over time.
More Info

LOM Annual Conference
2026-11-09 - 2026-11-13 | Tejas Camp & Retreat, Giddings, TX

LOM Executive Director Gathering
2027-04-05 - 2027-04-08 | Bethel Horizons, Dodgeville, WI
Calling all LOM Executive Directors!
Save the date for the Executive Director Gathering in April 2027. Plans are underway for the next Executive Director Gathering, April 5-8, 2027, at Bethel Horizons in Dodgeville (WI). Be on the lookout for more information related to this event, but please be sure to save the date today!
